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Linux Starts to Find Home on Desktops
WSJdpatton writes "The much-hyped notion that Linux would be a viable alternative to Windows to run desktop and notebook PCs for corporate users seemed dead on arrival a few years ago. But the idea is showing some new vital signs as companies look for cheaper alternatives to Microsoft products. The Wall Street Journal outlines several firms that are reaping savings and stability on their workplace desktops by rolling out Linux distributions. 'Auto maker PSA Peugeot Citroën last month said it will start using Linux on 20,000 of its workers' PCs. Novell Inc., which sells a version of Linux and is supplying it to Peugeot, says it has recently signed up several large U.S. financial institutions that are installing Linux on some employee PCs. Sales of Linux PCs are showing a really nice uptick at Novell, says Ronald Hovsepian, chief executive of Novell.' Not everyone is a convert, though. 'The State of Illinois recently consolidated its IT systems onto Microsoft software -- and has no interest in using Linux, says Paul Campbell, director of the state's Central Management Services department. "We don't have time for science projects in state government," he says.'"
Why should they spend the effort? Most people want their computer to work like their TV, or their Playstation. They don't want to have to think about it. If you want them to expend effort on it, then you have to give them a good reason to do so.
've dual-booted for a long time, but it's only been recently that I started spending more time in Linux than in Windows. (And the shift was both dramatic and quick. In a single day, I went from less than 20% of my time spent in Linux to over 80%.)
And OTOH I used Linux exclusively from 1997 through 2002 as my main desktop OS. I then switched to XP on my daily use machines because Linux application support sucked.
While I am still a Linux advocate, it's not for it being run on the desktop. In fact, I would steer *ANYONE* and *EVERYONE* away from it just as I would suggest they do with Vista.
As a state employee, I can assure you we have the time.
Let me clarify- they shouldn't have time for BS. I'd rather the state government I pay taxes to use the more tried and trusted solution instead of using our infrastructure as a cultural software experiment. Less important states like Indiana or Iowa can do that.